Powerful Biography in a Campaign Song

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Rick Jackson rolled out a video the other day for his campaign.  Songs and jingles for campaigns are not unusual. Many candidates come up with something to plant the name of the candidate firmly in the listener’s mind.

This song did that and more. It told a powerful story of the struggles of a child. It told how that child overcame those overwhelming odds to make a life that impacts thousands of lives today.

The song walks you through the first time that Rick drove a car. He could barely see over the dashboard to drive his drunk and passed out mother home. He told of nights at home with literally an empty cupboard.

He was labeled and laughed at and bullied. He was told that he was white trash.

At five years old something led him to walk to a downtown church where he found refuge and a sense of peace. When the world knocked him down, he found the strength to get up and get up again and again and again to keep fighting against the labeling, name calling, bullying, and being told he would never amount to anything.

He tracked his job career from shoeshine boy, to a paper route, to vacuum cleaner salesman, to the Chief Executive of a multibillion dollar company today. He determined to learn life’s valuable lessons even in the lowliest jobs.

Through his experience, he honed the value of one-on-one relationships and a servant’s heart. Rather than accepting the label of a white trash loser, he looked to win and win big.

He was shaped along the way by loving foster parents and later in the United Methodist Children’s Home. “From the hard road to the high road,” he learned and applied what it took to win big.

He related in his song servanthood and putting America first. When Covid hit, he made Georgia the priority for finding medical personnel to fight the deadly disease. He could have easily increased his bottom line profits by turning his business toward New York – but he stuck with Georgia. (He was not running for and had no thought of running for Governor back then.)

China, had a monopoly on medicine production. When they tried to squeeze America, Rick Jackson  bought an American medicine manufacturer and turned it around to keep some medicine production on American soil.

With all of his millions, he never forgot where he came from. He built a successful organization to help foster children when they aged out of foster care.

He sees this run for Governor of Georgia as a drive that calls for strength and clarity. He demonstrates both in his support for law enforcement, families, and the working man.

He is running to win and win big. I like the way he puts it when he says he doesn’t want to be governor. He wants to be a good governor.

Listen to the song here on YouTube. It will move you as much as any patriotic song you’ve ever heard.

If you want to meet Rick in person, he will be making a couple of stops in Southwest Georgia on Friday, March 6 in Blakely and Thomasville. Click on the invites below for more information.

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Assurance for President Trump and Anyone Else Who Believes

I just read an open letter to President Trump by Pastor Douglas Wilson about questions of eternity. President Trump recently made comments about hoping that he would make it to heaven and even expressed a doubt that he would make it to heaven. Pastor Wilson took that opportunity to address the deep questions of human mortality.

Every time I hear President Trump talk about heaven and how he might get there, it appears that he judges his standing before God through mere mortal eyes. There is a general view that Christianity is like a set of scales.

Do good and it goes on one side. Do bad and it goes on the other. When the clock runs out in this life, just check the scales to see which side wins out.

Seems to be reasonable – but it is a lie straight out of the pit of hell. The Bible says, “There is a way which that seems right to a man but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12 ESV)

So what is the right way to be assured of heaven and eternity with God? The right and only way is through the person of Jesus Christ.

The Condition of Man – Mankind is infected with sin. The Bible says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 ESV) Sin is not a behavior, it is a condition. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no not one.” (Romans 3:10 ESV)

God’s Provision – Man was hopelessly lost in unrighteousness, “but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 ESV) Jesus came into this world, lived a perfect life, and gave Himself as payment for mankind’s unrighteousness. He is the unique and only provision that God made for man’s sin.

The Required Response – God presents to man a free gift of full payment for man’s sin. Here is the catch – man must accept God’s free offer. This becomes a sticking point for many. It appears that it may be a sticking point for President Trump.

It is not a matter of doing enough good works. Man’s condition rules that out. God holds up a standard of perfection which man could never meet, but God did in Jesus.

What does it require to be right with God and spend eternity in heaven?

It requires that an individual be humble enough to recognize that he cannot save himself.

It requires repentance or turning around in your thinking from relying on self.

It requires faith and trusting in Jesus Christ as the only way to be right with God.

The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

President Trump is surrounded by Christians who have received the gift of eternal life. That is no accident. Those around him understand how to be right with God. It would not surprise me to learn that some of them have had this discussion with President Trump.

What is his spiritual condition? He may need to stop relying on what he thinks are good deeds and trust in Jesus. Then again, he may have done that and just needs a clarification on what makes him right.

Whatever his standing with God, assurance is available as a free gift and it is available to anyone. Just humbly turn from any other reliance and place your trust in Jesus to experience hope, assurance, and confidence in your relationship with God.

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Racist Republicans Ruin Reputations

I cannot express enough how angry I am at this moment. I have just read multiple articles about several leaders in the Young Republican organizations who used vile, vulgar, racist language over the past several months in chat rooms.

The Board of Directors of the National Young Republicans has condemned the language and demanded the resignation of each one who used the language. I’ll take it a step further. If any of these happen to be holding or running for an elected position of any kind, they need to resign immediately and get out of the race.

I do not even want to repeat the language used but I need to in order to shine the light. Politico released 2900 pages of these references! Making reference to blacks people some referred to them as “monkeys,” “watermelon people,” and used the “n” word. Rape was referred to as “epic.” There were antisemitic and pro-hitler comments. I don’t need to go anymore and it only gets worse.

This scandal by some in leadership positions in several states cannot be tolerated. Thankfully, the Board of Directors released an immediate statement and called for the resignations of all involved.

“We are appalled by the vile and inexcusable language revealed in the Politico article published today. Such behavior is disgraceful, unbecoming of any Republican, and stands in direct opposition to the values our movement represents. Those involved must immediately resign from all positions within their state and local Young Republican organizations. We must hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity, respect, and professionalism. Board of Directors”

    This should be a call to clean up language – not just politically incorrect language. It seems that over the past few years, the use of profanity has grown from taboo to tolerated to typical.

    From President on down profane language in public has become common place. This Young Republican scandal reveals that the language in what is thought to be private is even worse.

    We should not be surprised to hear of such stench coming out of the mouths and from the keyboards of some today. The intolerable language displayed by these Young Republicans started with the foul language that is more and more tolerated.

    It is hypocrisy to say family values and in the same breath drop an f-bomb. Stop it! Right now.

    The simple old-fashioned answer comes not with “regretting,” but with repentance. Mr. President, let it start with you. Make a commitment to clean up your language today.

    You sports coaches (yes, in case there is any question, this includes Kirby Smart) who are charged with building character. Build some character by letting your players see the immediate change in the words you speak and the words you no longer utter.

    Blasting this group of Young Republicans for their corrupt communications does not get to the root of the problem. Look deeper into the mindset and attitude that pollutes language with unwholesome words.

    That’s all I have to say for right now. Let me just ask you, my friend, if you need to check the words you use. It does not begin with someone else, it begins with the first person singular. Thanks for reading.

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    Honor Charlie – Go to Church

    Across the nation thousands gather in groups of all sizes to remember Charlie Kirk and express their grief at his tragic murder. Millions comment, like, and share posts on social media. People want to do something, take some kind of affirmative action in response to the loss of Charlie Kirk.

    Since his murder, I have learned things about Charlie that I did not know before. I knew of Charlie Kirk and knew that he was a conservative political leader. I knew that he went on college campuses and had a powerful influence among the young people of today.

    I did not follow him or subscribe to his podcast. My knowlege of him was limited to seeing him occasionally on the news. Based on the limited knowledge I had of him, I knew that we agreed politically.

    Since his murder I learned that I have even more in common with Charlie Kirk and that is our faith. In fact, I learned that at the foundation of his political philosophy, he had a strong, fundamental, Christian faith.

    His faith was not just a label. His faith was a life transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

    In fact, when asked how he wanted to be remembered, his response was centered in his faith. He wanted to be remembered for his faith and his courage.

    Having learned this about Charlie Kirk, it opens the door to a simple act that will honor his life. Go to church this Sunday.

    The prayer vigils are all excellent ways to express your desire to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. Those prayer vigils are one and done. A month from now, they will be memories in the archives of newsrooms around the nation.

    But what happens when you make the decision to go to church this Sunday, the next Sunday and on-going. You continue an on-going tribute to Charlie Kirk and you will greatly benefit from personal and spiritual growth yourself.

    I would be interested to see if there is an uptick in church attendance over the next few Sundays. It could be the groundswell of a spiritual awakening across America.

    Romans 8:28 promises us that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love the Lord. God can take even a vicious and evil murder and turn it into good for thousands, even millions.

    You may be like I was and did not know about the strong faith of Charlie Kirk. Now you do know. I encourage you to do some research and learn more about his bold and courageous proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    You might have attended a vigil, written your comments or shared someone else’s. One more thing you can do to honor Charlie Kirk. This Sunday, go to church.

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    Responding to Federal Firing

    On Valentine’s Day, I started work early as I normally do. I was greeted with an e-mail sent late the previous evening with the glaring subject line, “Notice of Termination.”

    The subject line was bad enough. The message included this line, “The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.” The message went on to say that I was removed from my position as of close of business February 13.

    I had a lot of different emotions hitting me from all sides. I had not been just laid off. I was not cut because of a reduction in force. I was fired for not “demonstrating” that my work was in the public interest. At least that’s what the message said.

    Several thousand federal employees who had been on the job less than a year got the same message. The action of making the cuts was not personal, but it sure felt like it was.

    At that moment, I had an important decision to make. How would I respond to this action? I had no control over the circumstances, but I did have control over what I did next.

    Feelings of anger, resentment, and bitterness, shouted for me to grab hold and dance with them. I cannot honestly say that I did not entertain those feelings for a few moments. There was another voice that was not as loud but it was convincing.

    That voice came from a message that I have drilled into my mind for nearly four decades. I have given away hundreds of jars of beans with a pecan. It is a four minute sermon as to how to face circumstances exactly like I was facing right then.

    If you are facing similar circumstances now, take a moment to watch the video. After you have seen it, you probably know someone who could use a lift. It won’t change your circumstances, but it will change how you view them.

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    The Empty Chair – 2023

    It has been a while since I have written to my friends. We have had a lot going on in our family for the past several months. As enjoyable and fulfilling as it is to write to my friends, something had to come off my plate. My weekly commentary was one of those things.

    With the ebb and flow of life events, Thanksgiving brings a renewed energy and, with a little rearranging, I made room on my plate for my annual message on the empty chair.

    This year, the empty chair is more real to me than it has been in the past. This year, I experience the empty chair directly and not merely through empathy.

    Fewer than 48 hours before he would celebrate his 97th birthday, my father, Robert Cole, stepped into eternity. Until the last few weeks of his life, he was active with a sharp mind.

    This photo is one of him sitting in his chair holding one of his Model T toys that he built from scratch. It is not a model out of a box.

    Man holding toy Ford Model T

    He saw a picture and sketched out the dimensions on paper, went to his band saw with a block of wood, and cut out the body of the car. Then, using toothpicks for spokes, a piece of pvc pipe for the wheels and dowell for the axle, he brought a picture in a magazine to a toy you could hold in your hand.

    We knew that he would not live forever, in his current physical body. None of us will. As much as we knew it would eventually come to a close in this lifetime, we still expected to see him sitting in that chair sketching out something else to build, reading a book, or talking back to the tv when Fox news was on.

    Thanksgiving traditionally begins the Christmas season. Each year I share this article because I know that even those who have read it before may see it in a new light this year.

    You may discover that this year, the message is more real than ever because for the first time, you experience that empty chair. 

    Christmas is supposed to be a time of great joy and happiness. This year is different for many.  You probably know some for whom it is different. You may not realize it, or maybe it just slips past you in all the hustle and bustle of the year. It is quite possible that you are one of those for whom Christmas is different. 

    There is a special chair in someone’s home that is empty this year.  It may be the straight back chair at the dinner table, the office chair at the desk in the study, the lazy boy in the den, or some other special spot. It was a favorite for him or her. 

    Blue lazy-boy recliner

    You may have seen it on a daily basis.  It may be in a place on the other side of the country.  It may be a memory from years ago. 

    Last Christmas or some past Christmas, there was someone sitting in that special chair. This year it sits empty.

    It is that empty chair that consumes your mind.  Everyone else is buying presents and talking about celebrating the season with family and friends. 

    All of that joy and celebration only intensifies the absence of the one who should be in that empty chair. You may feel guilty and hypocritical because you do not feel very merry at all. 

    King Solomon said that for everything there is a time; “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” (Ecclesiastes 3:4 ESV)  

    If you have an empty chair this Christmas, it is okay to take some time in the midst of the celebration to also weep and mourn. If you do not have an empty chair this Christmas, pause for a moment and think of someone who does. Your most meaningful gift this year could be to let someone know that you also notice the empty chair. 

    I’m Don Cole. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas. 

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    The Empty Chair 2022

    This year the chair is empty

    Thanksgiving traditionally begins the Christmas season. Each year I share this article because I know that even those who have read it before may see it in a new light this year.

    You may discover that this year, the message is more real than ever because for the first time, you experience that empty chair.

    Christmas is supposed to be a time of great joy and happiness. This year is different for many.  You probably know some for whom it is different. You may not realize it, or maybe it just slips past you in all the hustle and bustle of the year. It is quite possible that you are one of those for whom Christmas is different. 

    There is a special chair in someone’s home that is empty this year.  It may be the straight back chair at the dinner table, the office chair at the desk in the study, the lazy boy in the den, or some other special spot. It was a favorite for him or her. 

    You may have seen it on a daily basis.  It may be in a place on the other side of the country.  It may be a memory from years ago. 

    Last Thanksgiving or some past Christmas, there was someone sitting in that special chair. This year it sits empty.

    It is that empty chair that consumes your mind.  Everyone else is buying presents and talking about celebrating the season with family and friends. 

    All of that joy and celebration only intensifies the absence of the one who should be in that empty chair. You may feel guilty and hypocritical because you do not feel very merry at all. 

    King Solomon said that for everything there is a time; “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” (Ecclesiastes 3:4 ESV)  

    If you have an empty chair this Christmas, it is okay to take some time in the midst of the celebration to also weep and mourn. If you do not have an empty chair this Christmas, pause for a moment and think of someone who does. Your most meaningful gift this year could be to let someone know that you also notice the empty chair. 

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    Mother Lucille Shazier

    For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (I Corinthians 13:12)

    Photo of Vesta Beal Shepard with Lucille Shazier
    Vesta Beal-Shephard with Mother Lucille Shazier

    On Friday, May 13, 2022, Mother Lucille Shazier, after living 109 years in this world, stepped into eternity. She now sees Jesus face to face.

    I met Mother Lucille Shazier in November 2019 after she had celebrated her 106th Thanksgiving with her family. My meeting her is one of the blessings in my life.

    Mother Lucille shared the significant events of her life with me. (See 106 Thanksgivings) The most significant event with her was when she accepted Christ as a young child.

    The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that in this life we see dimly, but one day we will see Jesus face to face. When Mother Lucille talked about when she met Jesus, it was as if it was face to face then. She said that she just hugged him because he was so real with her right then. If He was so real to her then, just imagine how it was when she literally saw Him face to face.

    The last time we talked was in February 2020. Leslie and I were about to go to Panama for an Army reunion and we stopped by to tell her Happy Birthday before we left for the airport. Covid 19 showed up and I never had the chance to visit with her in person again.

    We think of 109 years as a very long life, but in reality, it is the twinkling of an eye in light of eternity. The fact is that at some point you will take your final breath and your heart will beat its final beat.

    Are you assured that you will see Him face to face and know Him fully? You can be certain.

    When you, with a simple childlike faith, accept the full payment of Jesus Christ for your sin, then you can have that hope. I encourage you to read the story of Lucille Shazier and, if you have never received Christ, then accept Him today.

    Mother Lucille’s funeral service will be on Saturday, May 21. Obituary and funeral arrangements are at the J.W. Williams Funeral Home web site.

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    My Mother the Star

    In addition to being a mother and wife, she has been church worker, foster parent, gospel singer, columnist, cub and girl scout leader, bus driver, life guard, poet, writer, community leader, and political influencer among many other hats that she has worn in nearly a century of her life. Former Governor Sonny Perdue called her “The Conscience of Bonaire.”

    Now she can add one more title as the star of a political commercial. Republican congressional candidate, Wayne Johnson recently called on her to be in a commercial. Her role makes a clear and memorable point.

    She does pretty much anything she sets her mind to do. I think you will like her role in this 30 second ad.

    Happy Mother’s Day. I’m proud of you, Mama.

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    Meet Bob Bright, WWII POW

    January 10 is a special day to Georgia. The Georgia Bulldogs proved that Alabama can be beaten as the Dogs won the National Championship.

    January 10 is also a special day for 96 year old WWII Veteran, Bob Bright of Cordele, Georgia. It was January 10, 1945 when Bob Bright climbed into the gun turret on his 23rd mission. A short time later, at 25,000 feet Bob was donning his parachute to jump from the burning plane before it exploded.

    Of the 9 crew members, only 3 survived. Bob was captured and spent the next six months in a German Prisoner of War camp. General George Patton and his troops liberated the camp and Bob came home.

    I had the privilege and honor to talk with Bob Bright and another World War II veteran, Jack Roche. This is Bob’s story.

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